Long noncoding RNA lncPostn links TGF-β and p53 signaling pathways to transcriptional regulation of cardiac fibrosis.

Cardiac fibroblasts are essential for the homeostasis of the extracellular matrix, whose remodeling in many cardiovascular diseases leads to fibrosis. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are associated with cardiac pathologies, but their functions in cardiac fibroblasts and contributions to cardiac fibrosis remain unclear. Here, we aimed to identify fibroblast-enriched lncRNAs essential in myocardial infarction (MI)-induced fibrosis and explore the molecular mechanisms responsible for their functions.

Insight into the role of PCSK9 in glucose metabolism.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is strongly associated with an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) was recently identified as an important regulator of circulating low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels via degradation of the LDL receptor, proving to be a valid target to improve lipoprotein profiles and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with ASCVD. Beyond LDL receptor processing and cholesterol homeostasis, the PCSK9 protein has recently been verified to be associated with glucose metabolism.

Triglyceride-glucose index for the detection of subclinical heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Objectives: The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index has been identified as a reliable and simple surrogate of insulin resistance. In this study, we sought to determine the association between TyG index and cardiac function among asymptomatic individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) without history of any cardiovascular disease.

Materials And Methods: The cross-sectional study enrolled 180 T2DM patients without cardiac symptoms.

Corrigendum: Reconstruction and Analysis of the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA Network Based on Competitive Endogenous RNA Reveal Functional lncRNAs in Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.

Triglyceride-glucose index as a marker in cardiovascular diseases: landscape and limitations.

The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index has been identified as a reliable alternative biomarker of insulin resistance (IR). Recently, a considerable number of studies have provided robust statistical evidence suggesting that the TyG index is associated with the development and prognosis of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Nevertheless, the application of the TyG index as a marker of CVD has not systemically been evaluated, and even less information exists regarding the underlying mechanisms associated with CVD.

The Role of Mitochondrial Biogenesis Dysfunction in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy.

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is described as abnormalities of myocardial structure and function in diabetic patients without other well-established cardiovascular factors. Although multiple pathological mechanisms involving in this unique myocardial disorder, mitochondrial dysfunction may play an important role in its development of DCM. Recently, considerable progresses have suggested that mitochondrial biogenesis is a tightly controlled process initiating mitochondrial generation and maintaining mitochondrial function, appears to be associated with DCM.

Erratum: Crucial Role of miR-433 in Regulating Cardiac Fibrosis: Erratum.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.7150/thno.15007.

Long Noncoding RNA Cardiac Physiological Hypertrophy-Associated Regulator Induces Cardiac Physiological Hypertrophy and Promotes Functional Recovery After Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury.

Background: The benefits of exercise training in the cardiovascular system have been well accepted; however, the underlying mechanism remains to be explored. Here, we report the initial functional characterization of an exercise-induced cardiac physiological hypertrophy-associated novel long noncoding RNA (lncRNA).

Methods: Using lncRNA microarray profiling, we identified lncRNAs in contributing the modulation of exercise-induced cardiac growth that we termed cardiac physiological hypertrophy-associated regulator (CPhar).

Identification of a lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network based on competitive endogenous RNA theory reveals functional lncRNAs in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is an autosomal dominant disease that affects 1 in every 200 people in the general population, leading to cardiac ischemia, heart failure and increased risk of sudden death. Recently, accumulating evidence has suggested that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) may serve specific roles in various biological processes and participate in the pathology of various diseases, including HCM. Although a large number of lncRNAs have been detected, the functions of lncRNAs in HCM are still unknown.

Value of circulating miRNA-21 in the diagnosis of subclinical diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a type of cardiac dysfunction that affects approximately 12% of diabetic patients, ultimately leading to heart failure or even death. However, there is currently no efficient or specific biomarker for DCM diagnosis.

Methods: A total of 266 subjects with type II diabetes (T2DM) were enrolled in this study and were divided into the T2DM with cardiac dysfunction (DCM) group and T2DM without cardiac dysfunction (non-DCM) group.

Neutrophil: lymphocyte ratio is positively associated with subclinical diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Subclinical diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) occurs frequently in asymptomatic subjects with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The direct association between the immune system and DCM with effective biomarkers has been demonstrated in previous studies.

Methods: Five hundred seven subjects with T2DM were recruited from April 2018 to October 2019 and divided into T2DM with cardiac dysfunction (DCM) group and T2DM without cardiac dysfunction (non-DCM) group.

MiR-144 protects the heart from hyperglycemia-induced injury by regulating mitochondrial biogenesis and cardiomyocyte apoptosis.

Several lines of evidence have revealed the potential of microRNAs (miRNAs, miRs) as biomarkers for detecting diabetic cardiomyopathy, although their functions in hyperglycemic cardiac dysfunction are still lacking. In this study, mitochondrial biogenesis was markedly impaired induced by high glucose (HG), as evidenced by dysregulated mitochondrial structure, reduced mitochondrial DNA contents, and biogenesis-related mRNA levels, accompanied by increased cell apoptosis. MiR-144 was identified to be decreased in HG-induced cardiomyocytes and in streptozotocin (STZ)-challenged heart samples.

Long Noncoding RNA FTX Reduces Hypertrophy of Neonatal Mouse Cardiac Myocytes and Regulates the PTEN/PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway by Sponging MicroRNA-22.

BACKGROUND Cardiac myocyte hypertrophy results from clinical conditions that include hypertension and valvular heart disease, and can result in heart failure. This study aimed to investigate the expression and role of the long noncoding RNA FTX (lnc-FTX), an X-inactive-specific transcript (XIST) regulator transcribed from the X chromosome, in hypertrophy of neonatal mouse cardiac myocytes induced by angiotensin II (Ang II) in vitro. MATERIAL AND METHODS Cardiac myocytes were isolated from neonatal mice and cultured with and without Ang II.

Reconstruction and Analysis of the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA Network Based on Competitive Endogenous RNA Reveal Functional lncRNAs in Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is an important cause of sudden death and heart failure with an unknown etiology. Recent studies have suggested that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) can interact with microRNA (miRNA) and indirectly interact with mRNA through competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) activities. However, the mechanism of ceRNA in DCM remains unclear.

Upregulation of Circular RNA CircNFIB Attenuates Cardiac Fibrosis by Sponging miR-433.

Cardiac fibrosis is the pathological consequence of fibroblast proliferation and fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition. As a new class of endogenous non-coding RNAs, circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been identified in many cardiovascular diseases including fibrosis, generally acting as microRNA (miRNA) sponges. Here, we report that the expression of circRNA-circNFIB was decreased in mice post-myocardial infarction heart samples, as well as in primary adult cardiac fibroblasts treated with TGF-β.

Recombinant human glucagon-like peptide-1 protects against chronic intermittent hypoxia by improving myocardial energy metabolism and mitochondrial biogenesis.

Background And Aims: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is a chronic disease associated with intermittent hypoxia (IH) and is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) is a naturally occurring incretin used as a promising therapeutic agent in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction, dilated cardiomyopathy, and advanced heart failure. However, whether GLP-1 can protect against IH-induced cardiac injury is still unclear.

The Exosome: a New Player in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy.

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) or diabetes-induced cardiac dysfunction is a direct consequence of uncontrolled metabolic syndrome and occurs worldwide. However, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Recently, exosomes have attracted considerable interest for their use as efficient, targeted, and non-immunogenic delivery systems for biological molecules or pharmacotherapies.

Neonatal Rat Cardiomyocytes Isolation, Culture, and Determination of MicroRNAs' Effects in Proliferation.

Cardiomyocytes loss is a major contributor for many cardiovascular diseases including heart failure and myocardial infarction. Although extremely limited, adult cardiomyocytes are able to proliferate. Understanding the molecular mechanisms controlling cardiomyocytes proliferation is extremely important for enhancing cardiomyocyte proliferation to promote cardiac regeneration and repair.

MicroRNAs Mediate Beneficial Effects of Exercise in Heart.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs, miRs), a group of small non-coding RNAs, repress gene expressions at posttranscriptional level in most cases and are involved in cardiovascular physiology and disease pathogenesis. Increasing evidence has proved that miRNAs are potential regulators of exercise induced cardiac growth and mediate the benefits of exercise in a variety of cardiovascular diseases. In this chapter, we will review the regulatory effects of miRNAs in cardiac adaptations to exercise, and summarize their cardioprotective effects against myocardial infarction, ischemia/reperfusion injury, heart failure, diabetic cardiomyopathy, atherosclerosis, hypertension, and pulmonary hypertension.

Crucial Role of miR-433 in Regulating Cardiac Fibrosis.

Dysregulation of microRNAs has been implicated in many cardiovascular diseases including fibrosis. Here we report that miR-433 was consistently elevated in three models of heart disease with prominent cardiac fibrosis, and was enriched in fibroblasts compared to cardiomyocytes. Forced expression of miR-433 in neonatal rat cardiac fibroblasts increased proliferation and their differentiation into myofibroblasts as determined by EdU incorporation, α-SMA staining, and expression levels of fibrosis-associated genes.

The Metabolic Effects of Traditional Chinese Medication Qiliqiangxin on H9C2 Cardiomyocytes.

Background/aims: A traditional Chinese medicine, Qiliqiangxin (QLQX) has been identified to perform protective effects on myocardium energy metabolism in mice with acute myocardial infarction, though the effects of QLQX on myocardial mitochondrial biogenesis under physiological condition is still largely elusive.

Methods: H9C2 cells were treated with different concentrations of QLQX (0.25, 0.

Non-coding RNAs in cardiac regeneration.

Developing new therapeutic strategies which could enhance cardiomyocyte regenerative capacity is of significant clinical importance. Though promising, methods to promote cardiac regeneration have had limited success due to the weak regenerative capacity of the adult mammalian heart. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs, miRs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), are functional RNA molecules without a protein coding function that have been reported to engage in cardiac regeneration and repair.

Exercise for the heart: signaling pathways.

Physical exercise, a potent functional intervention in protecting against cardiovascular diseases, is a hot topic in recent years. Exercise has been shown to reduce cardiac risk factors, protect against myocardial damage, and increase cardiac function. This improves quality of life and decreases mortality and morbidity in a variety of cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction, cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury, diabetic cardiomyopathy, cardiac aging, and pulmonary hypertension.